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Hailing from Chile, where he befriended the likes of Cadenza boss Luciano and techno’s resident eccentric Ricardo Villalobos, it is no surprise that Pier Bucci’s name is constantly seen on bills next to the biggest names in the minimal crowd.

His work for Damian lazarus’ Crosstown Rebels, Multicolor Recordings and Lo-fi Stereo have seen him join the ranks of Pink Elln, Senor Coconut and Minilogue. Whether flying solo or teaming up with family and friends in the studio Bucci’s releases never fail to please, his debut solo album “Familia” a definite crowd favourite.

Pier was in Tokyo for a mini tour where we were able to have a brief chat between his gigs around town.

Pier Bucci : Well, actually, the first time I came to Japan was for the Labyrinth festival in September 2006, and then I played at Yellow. This tour of Japan is really like a holiday. I’ve been travelling for one month. I took a train from Moscow to Beijing. And then I flew to Tokyo, and I called my promoter Josh, and I said “I want to go to Japan for two weeks for a holiday, do you want to organize something?”

HRFQ : How does touring affect your creative process?

Pier Bucci : Well, of course when I’m not touring I’m in the house creating music all the time. At the moment I can’t really create anything because I spend a lot of time travelling. But travelling inspires me. I take things that I see and make music from them.

HRFQ : Quite a few of the projects you have done have been as groups or duos, for example Mambotur with Argenis Brito and Monne Automne with Argenis and Luciano.

Pier Bucci : And Skipsapiens.

HRFQ : Yeah. What attracts you to working in groups?

Pier Bucci : Well, always I’m attracted to working with people because it’s a learning experience for me. You can learn from anyone. You don’t need to work with top DJs or people like that. You can work with people who aren’t into exactly the same things as you, and you learn a lot from that actually. More than from people who are at the top. And I like that, I like sharing and learning, that’s why I like working with people. But lately I’ve been doing more stuff alone.

HRFQ : Yeah, especially in the last couple of years your solo material as Pier Bucci has become really successful. In the future do you think you’ll continue with the group projects? Or focus more on your solo work?

Pier Bucci : I’ve learned that sometimes it’s good to work alone. It’s faster and I can do what I want. And I can finish a project when I want. So I like working alone. But I still like working in groups. So I’ll keep it the same. I’m not stopping. I’ll keep doing Mambotur and Monne Automne, and other stuff with new people too.

HRFQ : We noticed that one of your group projects, Bucci, is with your brother Andres. What’s it like working with family?

Pier Bucci : [Smiles] It’s the best. The best. Because, really, I learn from them. I have two brothers. They introduced me to electronic music. They lived in Germany for a long time, and they brought their drum machines and stuff to Chile. So my first work was with them. I like to work with my brothers.

HRFQ : It’s really interesting how there’s this connection between Germany and Chile. Of course there are many artists from Chile who are in Germany, but then you have people like Uwe Schmidt [a.k.a. Atom Heart, a.k.a. Señor Coconut] who are –

Pier Bucci : Going to Chile!

HRFQ : Yeah. What do you think about that?

Pier Bucci : Well, for me, Atom Heart was the biggest influence, actually. He helped me a lot with Mambotur. Mambotur is like the son of Atom Heart.

HRFQ : You live in Berlin now, right? Do you get to return to Chile much?

Pier Bucci : Yeah, once a year to see my friends and my family. Although this year I came to Japan instead of Chile. [Laughs]

HRFQ : When you lived in Chile, were you involved with Luciano, Ricardo Villalobos, and Martin Schopf [a.k.a. Dandy Jack]?

Pier Bucci : Yeah, when I was in Chile I knew Luciano and Ricardo and Dandy Jack and all my friends.

HRFQ : Now that you are all in Berlin (except for Luciano), have you guys formed a kind of Chilean music community?

Pier Bucci : Nah … no, not really. It’s not really a Chilean music community. We’re just friends who are doing the same thing. Sure, sometimes we do things together, but it’s not like we’re a Chilean music community. It’s not like that.

HRFQ : With your solo work as Pier Bucci, is it self consciously Chilean?

Pier Bucci : I never think about doing Chilean music. I’m Latin anyway, so maybe something Chilean comes out in my music, but I’m not doing it consciously.

HRFQ : Do you ever think you would move back to Chile?

Pier Bucci : Um … yeah! I will be back someday. But I haven’t lived in Chile for a long time.

HRFQ : Talking about your solo stuff, on your debut album “Familia” there are two tracks, “Tita” and “L’Nuit”, with vocals by Armelle Pioline. How did you work with her, how were you introduced to her?

Pier Bucci : Well, Armelle is in a project called Holden, and Atom Heart produced them. They came to Chile to record, and I met Armelle. And then one day I was in Paris, and Armelle was sharing a studio with a Chilean friend of mine. I went there, and I saw Armelle playing the guitar in front of my computer and singing. And I grabbed my computer and said, “Oh, I can record this!” I said, “Just improvise for five minutes or so” and I recorded it, and took two songs from it.

HRFQ : The vocals on those songs are just fantastic.

Pier Bucci : [Smiles] On the new album I’ve got more, don’t worry. I love Armelle.

HRFQ :What are you working on at the moment?

Pier Bucci : I’m working on a new EP for Wagon Repair. And a double album for Crosstown Rebels, coming this summer probably. And also I have another Bucci EP coming out.